There’s a real chance that the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery doesn’t fall in the Detroit Pistons’ favor. There’s a greater chance that the few marquee names in a blah 2022 free agency class end up elsewhere. Ultimately, it’s very likely Detroit will have to get creative in order to turn the corner that the franchise is banking on next season.

Still in the early stages of a rebuild, the Pistons have done a good job of cultivating a culture. There are workers in the building and high-spirited talent, as made evident by Detroit’s decent ending to the season when it could have thrown in the towel in February. There are legitimate prospects. A true building block. There are different avenues for team building. There is radiant optimism from the top down. Everything that usually precedes the inception of worthwhile success is coming together. However, there is still a lot of work to be done.

“Continuing to add talent,” Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said when asked what this particular group is missing. “Coach and I want guys that play tough, dive for loose balls, but guess what? They’ve got to be talented. … We’ve got to improve our offense.”

Some of that influx of talent will come in-house. The likes of Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes are sure to continue to improve. Second-round pick Isaiah Livers looks like a legitimate NBA rotation player. Based on Weaver’s draft record at several stops, he gets the benefit of the doubt that whoever the team gets in this year’s draft will be added to the list.

The Pistons enter the offseason with another top-seven pick at their disposal and, potentially, the most cap space to use come free agency. Several doors can and will be used to improve this team, but the trade market might end up being the saving-grace route.

Here, we’re going to look at Detroit’s top-six trade assets as it enters an offseason that looks to be critical due to the uncertainty across the various mediums of roster building.

There’s no need to spend a ton of words discussing last year’s No. 1 pick. He looks to be a legitimate franchise player and the building block of the roster moving forward. He won’t be traded — unless the Milwaukee Bucks bump their noggin and offer Giannis Antetokounmpo for Cunningham and cap filler.

All franchises seek a player this talented on a rookie contract. That’s the draw of building through the draft. Cunningham isn’t going anywhere, but he’s the one every team in the NBA would pluck away from Detroit if it had the opportunity to do so.

The value of this year’s draft pick will vary depending on where the Pistons end up selecting once the lottery concludes on May 17. Even in the worst case scenario, the seventh pick in most drafts is useful bait to dangle out there for other teams to bite on.

If Detroit lands a top-three pick this year, it’s obviously more likely that the franchise will keep it. Anything outside of that, though, and I’m sure discussions will be had depending on what teams are offering and how the Pistons value the prospects outside of Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith and Duke’s Paolo Banchero, the likely first three selections in the draft.

For Detroit to make any out-of-left-field trade that catches the world by surprise, it’ll surely have to include this year’s pick or the player selected with that pick. That’s almost a guarantee. Hence, why this pick is high on the asset list despite not yet knowing where it falls.

The Pistons’ most likely trade chip this offseason, there will be a verdict on Grant in the coming months. He’ll either get an extension from Detroit or he’ll be traded to a team that will give him one.

Grant was the subject of trade rumors in February, but, ultimately, Weaver and Co. decided that no offer blew them away and elected to hold on to Grant, who was playing his best basketball of the season after the trade deadline.

With all that said, I don’t think it is a foregone conclusion that Grant isn’t a Piston to start next year. Wings of his size, length and defensive chops are valuable, especially in the playoffs, where Detroit hopes to be sooner rather than later. To put it frankly, Grant is better shot selection away from being a truly valuable piece on a winning team. I thought he improved his shot selection and playmaking as the season went on.

Surely, teams will be calling about Grant’s availability this offseason. And the way that the lottery shakes out could be the one determining factor in regards to his status in Detroit next year.

When you put all of the facts on the table, between Bey’s age, rookie contract, improvements and overall potential, he’d be higher than Grant on this list. However, I just can’t imagine the Pistons trading him unless a deal for a proven star becomes available, which is the sole reason I have Bey below Grant.

Despite a streaky second season shooting the 3-ball, Bey made real strides as a dribble-drive creator and playmaker. He’s got a 51-point game to his name. He also has the potential to hit seven 3s in a game at a moment’s notice. At 23, Bey would crack the rotation for every team in the NBA.

That’s great value for the 19th pick.

Much like Bey, Stewart’s age, contract and potential would have him higher on this list. But, again, I just don’t see Detroit parting with the soon-to-be 21-year-old unless it’s part of a larger trade package.

We know about the never-ending motor. Stewart built on that by showing the chops to potentially be one of the better switching big men in the NBA. He improved immensely as a screener, too. Additionally, while the 3-ball was non-existent for 85 percent of the season, the second-year big man ended the year hitting 11 of his last 18 3-point attempts.

There are some who look at his height and lack of leaping ability and just see a really good backup big man. They may be right. However, Stewart shows enough things on a basketball court at a very young age to make you believe that there is more to unlock with time.

Whether it was the injury, COVID-19 or the reality of a 31-year-old vet starting to show his age, Olynyk didn’t look like the player Detroit signed until the season was nearing its completion. The big man, who only appeared in 40 games, posted the lowest field-goal and 3-point percentages of his career, and just really struggled to find any semblance of consistency in Year 9.

Now, with all that said, Olynyk did have better performances as the season went on and he was further removed from a knee injury and a bout with COVID-19, signaling that maybe his age isn’t necessarily what caused the dip in production. Regardless, the idea of Olynyk still holds value across the league. He’s a stretch big who can put the ball on the floor and create offense. Everyone knows who he is and what he can do when healthy.

Surely, there is a veteran team that could be interested in Olynyk’s services, whether that be this summer or at the deadline. He’ll be in Year 2 of a three-year deal next season, and the third is only fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster after June 28 of next year. Otherwise, he’ll only be owed $3 million. That caveat in itself makes Olynyk an enticing trade option for a playoff-contending team looking to bolster its roster down the stretch next season.

Lastly, combining Olynyk’s $12.8 million in salary with Grant’s $21 million gives Detroit the cap filler to go after a big fish in the trade market. That is, if one becomes available and the Pistons choose to open that door. The makeup of Olynyk’s contract alone is attractive, assuming he doesn’t have a repeat season in Detroit.

I don’t think he’s damaged goods.

(Top photo credit of Troy Weaver: Chris Schwegler / NBAE via Getty Images)